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HomeMy WebLinkAboutATTAC Minutes 2023-01-10ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 10, 2023 The Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee met on Tuesday January 10, 2023, at 4 pm. Present: Matthew Bells, Emily Bennett, Jorg Broschek, Philip Charbonneau, Lynn Dramnitzki, Bart Forwell, Victoria Hand, Josh Orita, Greg Piccini, Rida Rahman, Craig Reynolds, Barry Tracey, Wanda West, Aislinn Clancy Staff: D. Kropf, Manager Active Transportation and Development I. Balaban, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager B. Cronkite, Director Transportation Services Delegations: Mariah Blake, Committee Administrator, City of Kitchener Њ͵ /ƚƒƒźƷƷĻĻ aĻƒĬĻƩ ƩğźƓźƓŭ Mariah Blake, Committee Administrator with the City of Kitchener, provided committee members with an Advisory Committee Training presentation. The presentation covered the role of the Advisory Committee, the roles and responsibilities of the members, council representative, and staff, the meeting procedures including agendas, debates, discussions, motions, voting, and minutes, the code of conduct, and information regarding conflicts of interest. Ћ͵ 5źƭĭƌƚƭǒƩĻ ƚŅ tĻĭǒƓźğƩǤ LƓƷĻƩĻƭƷ ğƓķ ƷŷĻ DĻƓĻƩğƌ bğƷǒƩĻ ƷŷĻƩĻƚŅ No conflicts of interest declared. Ќ͵ LĭĻĬƩĻğƉĻƩ I. Balaban led the group through an icebreaker activity to get to know each other. Members introduced themselves, which neighbourhood they were from , and where they liked to walk or bike in the City. Ѝ͵ ĻƩƒƭ ƚŅ wĻŅĻƩĻƓĭĻ D. Kropf distributed printed copies of the Terms of Reference to all members andled all members through the document providing opportunities to ask questions. M. Bells noted quorum in the Terms of Reference is listed as 5 members, however in the Advisory Committee Training presentation it was listed as two-thirds, which is correct? D. Kropf advised that 5 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 10, 2023 members is correct, since Terms of Reference takes precedence as membership in advisory committees can fluctuate. Ў͵ /ŷğźƩ Ή źĭĻ /ŷğźƩ ƭĻƌĻĭƷźƚƓ I. Balaban shared a short overview of the responsibilities of the Chair, including providing leadership, assisting staff in formulating agendas, facilitating the meetings, and representing the committee. The Vice-Chair provides support and fills the role of Chair when the Chair is absent. Outside of meetings, the time commitment is usually only twenty minutes per month, though occasionally the Chair may go to council meetings. M. Bells asks if other members of committee have opportunities to speak directly to council? D. Kropf responded that the Chair is usually the first choice, however other members can represent the Committee if Committee agrees. This often occurs when presenting on sub-committee topics. Members can speak to council or delegate as individuals outside of the Committee if they are clear that they are not representing the Committee in that capacity. B. Forwell nominates V. Hand for Chair and she accepts. R. Rahman nominates J. Orita and he declines. M. Bells nominates self for Vice-Chair. Vote taken to accept V. Hand as Chair and M. Bells as Vice-Chair. Passes unanimously. Џ͵ wǒƌĻƭ ƚŅ ĻƓŭğŭĻƒĻƓƷ Dow will we act and work together? and members were invited to contribute their ideas. The following points were contributed: Ensure we listen to each other, and give each other space Be succinct try to provide more visuals maps, pictures, etc. Stay on topic and provide meaningful feedback and comments Co-operate Treat each other with respect Be objective try to understand the underlying values behind other point of view Ensure we have informed, respectful debates Stay open-minded Use these meetings as an opportunity to educate yourself and others Ensure we remain on-topic -time Set action items, set timelines for follow through ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 10, 2023 The following items were also noted: There should be a shared drive for presented items, and documents and resources shared by subcommittees Organized electronic communications The Cycling and Trails Master Plan should be shared in a central location Staff brought forward the following two items: Please read the agenda in advance Staff will let you know when Media is present during committee Meetings you may be quoted by the media, as this is a public forum. А͵ {ǒĬĭƚƒƒźƷƷĻĻ ƦķğƷĻ I. Balaban shared an overview of the subcommittees from last term, which included Events and Promotion, Complete Streets, Bike Parking, Trail Standards and Vision Zero. Some details regarding the work done by those subcommittees in the past was shared, as well as a list of former subcommittee members who have returned to ATTAC for this term. It was noted that Subcommittees can form as needed, they do not need to be rigidly set out in advance. G. Piccini requested further brainstorming of potential new subcommittees be added to the next . M. Bells asked for previous members to share what they worked on and how much time was required G. Piccini was in the Complete Streets Implementation subcommittee, and reviewed upcoming road reconstructions and what was possible for each street. It was a few hours in the spring and then a few hours later in the year. L. Dramnitzki was in the Vision Zero subcommittee, where members learned about the policy and alternatives that could have been included. Since implementation, they have met every other month with the staff PM for progress updates. J. Orita was in the Bike Parking subcommittee, noting that the time commitment was minimal, and they advocated for bike parking guidelines and more bike parking downtown. E. Bennett was in the Events and Promotion subcommittee, noting that the time commitment was minimal, with most work done by email. Ideas were generated and then presented to Committee. B. Tracy was in the Trail Standards subcommittee, and they actually went out and rode the trails which required many hours but was enjoyable. There was minimal work to compile the findings, which was mostly done by email. V. Hand notes that if you choose a subcommittee that you have a passion for, it wont feel like work. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 10, 2023 Б͵ .ǒķŭĻƷ D. Kropf shared the engage Kitchener website showing the public engagement for the current budget process. Community feedback is ongoing and members are encouraged to complete the survey as individuals. The budget highlights show that approximately $2 million will go towards cycling in 2023, part of 8.7 million over the next 10 years. The majority of the $2 million will go towards the Margaret Avenue and Otto Street portions of the Downtown Cycling Grid. The City realized some savings through the conversion to LED streetlights, and there is a survey on the website asking for input on how to reallocate those funds. Currently there is one option for $300,000 towards the annual paving of trails, though that can also be increased to $600,000. There is also an option for $100,000 for Traffic Calming, including intersection and spot improvements. B. Forwell asked if the scope of the Margaret Avenue project can be extended to Guelph St? D. Kropf responded that it cannot since the project must stay within the scope of the Downtown Cycling Grid. J. Broschek notes that Traffic Calming Bas opposed to Green C, and asks if this categorization matters? D.Kropf responded it does not. B. Forwell asks if the committee should vote on what which allocation they would prefer? D. Kropf shared that the committee can hold a vote, the results of which can be communicated to council. However, the public meeting was yesterday. V. Hand asks if the vote would have any effect? D. Kropf shared that decisions on funding allocation , so the vote can still be considered. Councilor A. Clancy notes that now would be the time for a vote, as this will be discussed soon. D. Kropf presented the issue paper, showing $300,000 would allow 500m of trail paving. Increasing the budget to $600,000 would add another 1km. B. Tracy asks if this can be used to repair existing paved trails that are in poor condition? D. Kropf will follow up with Parks Staff for an answer (Post-meeting note: A. Visneski, Manager for Parks & Open Spaces, advised that staff are aware of the need for repairing existing paved trails in poor condition and are working towards a budget line item in the future). V. Hand asks if locations can be specified? D. Kropf stated that Council would not be asking for residents to share which trails they want paved, since that prioritization was already completed through the Cycling and Trails Master Plan. If approved by Council, this additional funding would move existing projects on the capital forecast up by a year. B. Forwell put forth a motion: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER January 10, 2023 Whereas trail investments are important for supporting healthy lifestyles, improving accessibility for people of all ages and abilities to get around, and meeting the Citys sustainability targets, be it resolved; That the Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee advises City Council to invest in Option C: Annual Paving of Trails to its maximum amount of $600,000. Carried unanimously. В͵ .ƌƚƚƒĬĻƩŭ LƓźƷźğƷźǝĻ ŅƚƩ /ǤĭƌźƓŭ LƓŅƩğƭƷƩǒĭƷǒƩĻ D. Kropf presented on the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure, a grant opportunity the City intends to apply for. The Bloomberg foundation will award 10 grants of $1 million dollars in US funds to ten cities worldwide. D. Kropf has been compiling a grant application for a series of projects to be completed concurrently in the Kingsdale neighbourhood and would like a letter of support from the Committee. It was noted by committee members that if the routing of the Trans Canada Trail were changed from Courtland Avenue to Wilson Avenue, the routing would be improved and the grant could make mention of connecting to national infrastructure. A. Clancy noted that it may be worth highlighting how car dependent the country is as a whole, and also there are opportunities to receive a letter of support from The Working Centre and Recycle Cycles, as well as area schools. P. Charbonneau noted that the pedestrian bridge over Highways 7/8 should be included in the scope of this work. R. Rahman noted that the area has a high population percentage of children, contributing to the high public transit use, and increased benefits for better Active Transportation facilities. ЊЉ͵ IƚƒĻǞƚƩƉ ŅƚƩ CĻĬƩǒğƩǤ At this time there is no homework for the February Committee meeting but committee members are requested to review the next agenda for further guidance. Meeting adjourned at 6:10pm.